Calibrachoa plant named &#39;DUECALVOLPI&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of Calibrachoa plant named ‘Duecalvolpi’, characterized by its compact, semi-upright to outwardly spreading, trailing and decumbent plant habit; freely branching habit; early and freely flowering habit; flowers with red purple and white bi-colored petals; and good garden performance.

Botanical designation: Calibrachoa sp.

Cultivar denomination: ‘DUECALVOLPI’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar ofCalibrachoa plant, botanically known as Calibrachoa sp. and hereinafterreferred to by the name ‘Duecalvolpi’.

The new Calibrachoa plant is a product of a planned breeding programconducted by the Inventor in Rheinberg, Germany. The objective of thebreeding program is to create new compact and early-floweringCalibrachoa plants with large, unique and attractive flowers.

The new Calibrachoa plant originated from a cross-pollination made bythe Inventor in July, 2014 in Rheinberg, Germany of a proprietaryselection of Calibrachoa sp. identified as code number AA13-004920-001,not patented, as the female, or seed, parent with a proprietaryselection of Calibrachoa sp. identified as code number AA13-002649-006,not patented, as the male, or pollen, parent. The new Calibrachoa plantwas discovered and selected by the Inventor as a single flowering plantfrom within the progeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlledgreenhouse environment in Rheinberg, Germany in May, 2016.

Asexual reproduction ofthe new Calibrachoa plant by vegetative terminalcuttings in a controlled greenhouse environment in Rheinberg, Germanysince June, 2016 has shown that the unique features of this newCalibrachoa plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successivegenerations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Calibrachoa have not been observed under all possiblecombinations of environmental conditions and cultural practices. Thephenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environmental conditionssuch as temperature and light intensity without, however, any variancein genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘Duecalvolpi’. These characteristics incombination distinguish ‘Duecalvolpi’ as a new and distinct Calibrachoaplant:

-   -   1. Compact, semi-upright to outwardly spreading, trailing and        decumbent plant habit.    -   2. Freely branching habit.    -   3. Early and freely flowering habit.    -   4. Flowers with red purple and white bi-colored petals.    -   5. Good garden performance.

The new Calibrachoa can be compared to plants of the female parentselection. Plants of the new Calibrachoa differ primarily from plants ofthe female parent selection in flower color as plants of the femaleparent selection have yellow-colored flowers.

The new Calibrachoa can be compared to plants of the male parentselection. Plants of the new Calibrachoa differ primarily from plants ofthe male parent selection in flower color as plants of the male parentselection have red-colored flowers. In addition, plants of the newCalibrachoa are more compact than plants of the male parent selection.

Plants of the new Calibrachoa can be compared to plants of Calibrachoasp. ‘Cal Paicoras’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 19,256. Inside-by-side comparisons, plants of the new Calibrachoa differ primarilyfrom plants of ‘Cal Paicoras’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Calibrachoa have larger leaves than plants        of ‘Cal Paicoras’.    -   2. Plants of the new Calibrachoa flower earlier than plants of        ‘Cal Paicoras’.    -   3. Plants of the new Calibrachoa are more freely flowering than        plants of ‘Cal Paicoras’.    -   4. Plants of the new Calibrachoa have larger flowers than plants        of ‘Cal Paicoras’.    -   5. Plants of the new Calibrachoa and ‘Cal Paicoras’ differ in        flower color as plants of ‘Cal Paicoras’ have coral and light        pink bi-colored flowers.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

The accompanying colored photograph illustrates the overall appearanceof the new Calibrachoa plant showing the colors as true as it isreasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type.Colors in the photograph may differ slightly from the color values citedin the detailed botanical description which accurately describe thecolors of the new Calibrachoa plant. The photograph is a sideperspective view of a typical flowering plant of ‘Duecalvolpi’ grown ina container.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photograph and following observations, measurementsand values describe plants grown during the summer in 22-cm containersin a glass-covered greenhouse in Rheinberg, Germany and under culturalpractices typical of commercial Calibrachoa production. During theproduction of the plants, day and night temperatures averaged 18° C. andlight levels averaged 4,500 lux. Rooted young plants were pinched onetime three weeks after planting and were 16 weeks old when thephotograph and description were taken. In the following description,color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society ColourChart, 2001 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionarysignificance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Calibrachoa sp. ‘Duecalvolpi’.-   Parentage:    -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Proprietary selection of            Calibrachoa sp. identified as code number AA13-004920-001,            not patented.        -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Proprietary selection of            Calibrachoa sp. identified as code number AA13-002649-006,            not patented.-   Propagation:    -   -   Type.—By vegetative cuttings.        -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About five days at            temperatures about 20° C.        -   Time to initiate roots, winter.—About seven days at            temperatures about 20° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer.—About three            weeks at temperatures about 20° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, winter.—About four            weeks at temperatures about 20° C.        -   Root description.—Fine, fibrous; typically white in color,            actual color of the roots is dependent on substrate            composition, water quality, fertilizers, substrate            temperature and age of roots.        -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching; medium density.-   Plant description:    -   -   Plant and growth habit.—Compact, semi-upright to outwardly            spreading to trailing and decumbent plant habit; freely            branching habit with about eight primary lateral branches            developing per plant; pinching enhances branching; dense and            full appearance; vigorous growth habit; moderate growth            rate.        -   Plant height.—About 19 cm.        -   Plant diameter.—About 64 cm.-   Lateral branch description:    -   -   Length.—About 45 cm.        -   Diameter.—About 3 mm.        -   Internode length.—About 1.3 cm.        -   Strength.—Strong.        -   Aspect.—Initially upright to outwardly spreading to trailing            and decumbent.        -   Texture.—Pubescent.        -   Color.—Close to 146C.-   Leaf description:    -   -   Arrangement.—Before flowering, alternate, and after            flowering, opposite; simple.        -   Length.—About 2.9 cm.        -   Width.—About 1 cm.        -   Shape.—Oblanceolate.        -   Apex.—Rounded.        -   Base.—Cuneate.        -   Margin.—Entire.        -   Texture and luster, upper and lower surfaces.—Pubescent;            matte.        -   Venation pattern.—Pinnate; arcuate.        -   Color.—Developing leaves, upper surface: Close to 137B.            Developing leaves, lower surface: Close to 137C. Fully            expanded leaves, upper surface: Close to 137A; venation,            close to 137A. Fully expanded leaves, lower surface: Close            to 137C; venation, close to 137C.        -   Petioles.—Length: About 3.4 mm. Diameter: About 1.7 mm.            Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Pubescent. Color, upper            and lower surfaces: Close to 144A.-   Flower description:    -   -   Flower arrangement and habit.—Single salverform flowers            arising from leaf axils; freely flowering habit with usually            about 370 to 400 flowers developing per plant during the            flowering season; flowers face upright to outwardly.        -   Fragrance.—None detected.        -   Natural flowering season.—Early flowering habit, plants of            the new Calibrachoa initiate and develop flowers about four            to five weeks after planting; plants flower continuously            from the spring throughout the summer in Germany.        -   Flower longevity.—Individual flowers last about seven to ten            days on the plant; flowers not persistent.        -   Flower diameter.—About 2.2 cm.        -   Flower length (height).—About 2.1 cm.        -   Flower throat diameter.—About 6.8 mm.        -   Flower tube length.—About 1.4 cm.        -   Flower tube diameter, base.—About 1.8 mm.        -   Flower buds.—Length: About 2.4 cm. Diameter: About 3.3 mm.            Shape: Elongated oblong. Texture: Pubescent. Color: Close to            2D.        -   Corolla.—Arrangement: Five petals fused at the base and            opening into a flared trumpet. Petal length from throat:            About 1.2 cm. Petal lobe width: About 1.2 cm. Petal shape:            Roughly spatulate. Petal apex: Rounded. Petal margin:            Entire. Petal texture and luster, upper and lower surfaces:            Smooth, glabrous; matte. Throat texture: Smooth, glabrous.            Tube texture: Smooth, glabrous. Color: Petal, when opening,            upper surface: Close to 66A; towards the margins, close to            69D. Petal, when opening, lower surface: Close to 62C.            Petal, fully opened, upper surface: Close to 66A; towards            the margins, close to 69D; venation, close to 46B; color            becoming closer to 80A with development. Petal, fully            opened, lower surface: Close to 62D; venation, close to 36B.            Throat: Close to 46B; venation, close to 59A. Tube: Close to            154C; venation, close to 187A.        -   Calyx.—Arrangement: Star-shaped calyx with five sepals;            sepals fused at the base. Sepal length: About 1.3 cm. Sepal            width: About 2.3 mm. Sepal shape: Lanceolate. Sepal apex:            Acute. Sepal margin: Entire. Sepal texture and luster, upper            and lower surfaces: Pubescent; matte. Color, upper and lower            surfaces: Close to 137A.        -   Peduncles.—Length: About 1 cm. Diameter: About 1 mm. Angle:            About 45° from stem axis. Strength: Moderately strong.            Texture: Pubescent. Color: Close to 144B.        -   Reproductive organs.—Stamens: Quantity: Six per flower.            Filament length: About 8.2 mm. Filament color: Close to            154C. Anther shape: Ellipsoidal. Anther length: About            0.6 mm. Anther color: Close to 13B. Pollen amount: Scarce.            Pollen color: Close to 13B. Pistils: Quantity: One per            flower. Pistil length: About 8.8 mm. Style length: About            7.8 mm. Style color: Close to 145A. Stigma shape:            Ellipsoidal. Stigma color: Close to 144A. Ovary color: Close            to 145A. Seeds and fruits: Seed and fruit development have            not been observed on plants of the new Calibrachoa.-   Garden performance: Plants of the new Calibrachoa have been observed    to have good garden performance and tolerate wind, rain and    temperatures ranging from about 5° C. to about 40° C.-   Pathogen & pest resistance: Plants of the new Calibrachoa have not    been observed to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to    Calibrachoa plants.

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Calibrachoa plant named‘Duecalvolpi’ as illustrated and described.